Mining apparatus



Margh 19, 1935. C Y r 1,995,188 A MINING APPARATUS i Filed Dec. 16, 1933 Patented Mar. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,995,188 1 u I MINING APPA ATUS Timothy F. McCarthy, n at-1a ,mama Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111;, a corporationof Illinois I ApplicationjDecember 16, 1933, Serial N o. '7 02,66 1 19 Claims; ((31. 198-2 20) This invention relates'to improvements in mining apparatus of the type adapted to cooperate with a conveyor of the shaker or jigging type and be insertable in a kerf cut in a coal face for completely loading the coal therefrom ina continuous operation, and has among other objects to provide a loading pan adapted to be connected with the forward end of a shaker conveyor for insertion in a kerf so arranged as to readily conform to an uneven mine bottom to prevent breakage, fouling or climbing of the apparatus in the coal.

'My invention may be more readily understood with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: I v

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention with parts broken away and in section; I

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure-1'; and t Figure-3 is an enlarged detail view showing certain details of the hinge for'the loading pan.

In the drawing; one embodiment of my inventionis shown as} beingsecured' to the forward end of an extensible trough adapted to be nested within and" extended from' or retracted within an extension trough llywhich trough is securedto the forwardend of a'shake r conveyor pan line by means of a suitable pivot (not 30shown). j

' The'eXtensible-troughis extended fromor retracted withinthe extension trough 11 upon reciprocation of said trough by means of a feeder head, generally indicated by reference character 35' 12; Thefee'der head 12 is of arr-ordinary construction' well known to thoseskilled'in'the art and includes-pairs of grip blocks 13; 13" adapted to engage longitudinally extending gripping members 14, 14 disposed on each side of; the; ex- 'tensible trough 10. The grip blocks 13, 13 are engaged with or' disengaged from said gripping members by means of handcranksf15 and a-systemof levers andspringsin a usual manner so that the extensible trough may be extendedfrom the extension trough 11 upon engagement of t the gripblocks 13, 13'withthe gripping members 14, 14 on theforward stroke of the shaker conveyor anddisengag'ement' of said grip blocks from said gripping membersupon the rearward stroke of said'shaker conveyor and be retracted within said extension trough in a contrary manner,-

1 The 'principle 'of operation 'ofthe device of "m invention has been fully'disclosed in'aprior application, Serial Number cemssa fiieu Apnr24, 1933, by'Timothy F. McCarthy; and entitled, Im-

provements in loading apparatus and systems therefor, and so will only be herein described insofar as is necessary to fully disclose my present invention; v H

With'reference now in'particularto several of 5 the novel features of my invention; a loading pan 16 is detachably secured to the'forward end of theextensible trough 10 in a suitablemanner such as connecting bolts, generall'y'indicated' by reference character 17. A shoe 18 adapted to 10 slidably engage the mine bottom, adjustably supports the rearward end of the loading 'pan 16*so said loading pan may be inserted in a kerf disposed above'the mine bottom and is particularly I adapted for use where a slightledgeis left above 15 the floor after each cut. The shoe 18 is adapted to supportthe loading pan 16 for tilting movement about longitudinal and transverse axes in a usual manner.

The loading pan 16 includes a rearwards ection 19 having a trough-likeformation 20 disposed adjacent its rearward end and in alignment with the extensible trough 10 for directing material therein. eyepiece 21 is'secured to the rearwardsection 19' on each side thereof and adjacent 5 the rearward end thereof. The eyepieces 21,21 are adapted to have a cable or flexible feeding member 22 detachably secured thereto for feeding the loading-pan16across the coal face in a'manner fully described in myaforementioned prior application; e g t Opposite edges "ofthe rearward section 19 of menacing-pan 16=aref serrated asis indicatedfby reference character; 23 and a material retaining member herein shown as being an-ahgle' 24 is adapted to be detach aloly securedto either one of these serrated edges depending uponthedirection in which the loading pan 16 is'traveling during the loadingoperation-for holding 'material thereon and directing Sam material into" the trough like formation 20. The forward end of the rearward section 19 is provided with a plurality of alignedhorizontally bored for'rnations' 25 adapted to register with 'a plurality of corr'espond- 'ir'ig alignied bored formations 26 extending rear-" wardly'from the rearward end'of a forward-isection Z'I'ofthe loading pan l6. A'suitable pin'28 is adapted to be inserted in the 'bo'res'of' the aligned bored formations 25 and 26 for securing 'the'forward section 27 to the rearward section" 19 and permitting said forward section to pivotally move'with respect thereto about a'tr'a'nsverse A shield 29 is secured to the upper surfaceof the forward section 27-and extends rearwardly' therefrom over the aligned bored formations 25 and 26 to provide a smooth surface along the loading pan 16 and to prevent foreign material from collecting in the hinge and impede movement along said loading pan and also to permit the hinge to operate when the loading pan 16 is buried under the coal.

Opposite edges of the forward section 2'7 of the loading pan 16 are serrated in a manner similar to the rearward section '19 of said loading pan and a material retaining member 30 similar to the angle 24 is detachably secured to the edge of said loading pan which forms the retreating edge thereof during the loading operation. The material retaining member 30 is in alignment with the retaining member or angle 24 and forms a continuous edge for directing material rearwardly along the loading pan 16 into the extensible trough 10.

It should be noted that the forward end of the angle 24 is cut away and that the rearward end of retaining member 30 is beveled to permit freedom of movement between the forward section 27 and rearward section 19 of the loading pan 16.

With reference now toFigure 2, it may be seen that the loading pan 16 may rest on the mine bottom and readily conform to an uneven mine bottom. Such an arrangement has various advantages over a rigid loading pan in that buckling of the pan or misalignment of the conveyor pan line is prevented as the coal is shot down on the loading pan and in that the pan may more readily follow an uneven mine bottom than formerly.

It may now be seen that a new and improved loading pan has been provided which is'adapted to be inserted in a kerf in a coal face and load the coal therefrom after it has been shot down thereon, by reciprocable and extensible and retractible movement with respect to the coal face, and by movement across the coal face in a manner similar to that described in my aforementioned prior application, and that the loading pan is arranged in a novel manner so as to be operable for loading in one direction as well as another and is adapted'for varying mining conditions where the bottom is uneven to effectively load in a most efiicient manner and prevent the breaking, fouling or climbing of the apparatus.-

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my'invention may be embodied, it

will' be understood that the construction and arrangement, of the various parts may be altered or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the particular embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: I v 7 1. In a loading apparatus, and in combination with a shaker conveyor, a trough, an extensible trough extensible from or retractable within said trough, and loading means secured to said extensible trough insertable in a kerf cut in a coal faceand adapted to rest on and conform to an uneven mine bottom, comprising a hinged loading pan having an open advance edge and material retaining means on the retreating edge thereof.

7 2. A loading apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hinged loading pan includes a section secured to the extensible trough, and another section hinged to said first-mentioned section for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis extending transversely of said section.

3. A loading apparatus in accordance with opposite serrated edges and wherein the material retaining members are adapted to be detachably secured to the serrated edge thereof which forms the retreating edge.

5. In a loading apparatus, and in combination with a shaker conveyor, a reciprocably movable trough, an extensible trough extensible from or retractable within said trough, and means secured to said extensible trough adapted to rest on the ground and be inserted in a kerf cut in a coal face and load the coal shot thereon upon reciprocable movement thereof and simultaneous movement across the coal face comprising a loading pan hinged adjacent its central portion and .forminga rearward section secured to said extensible trough and a forward section pivotally movable with respect thereto about an axis extending transversely thereof, said loading pan having an open advance edge and material retaining means on the retreating edge thereof.

6. A loading apparatus in accordance with claim wherein the hinged loading pan has an advance serrated edge and a pair of retaining members secured to the retreating edge thereof.

7. A loading apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the'hinged loading pan has an advance serrated edge and a pair of aligned retaining members adapted to be detachably secured to the retreating edge thereof.

8. A loading apparatus in accordance with claim '5 wherein the hinged loading pan has advance and retreating serrated edges for loading in opposite directions and a retaining member adapted to be detachably secured to the edge which forms the retreating edge thereof.

9. A loading apparatus in accordance with claim 5wherein the hinged loading pan has advance and retreating serrated edges forloading in opposite directions and a pair of aligned retaining members adapted to be detachably secured to the edge which forms the retreating edge thereof.

10. In a loading apparatus, and in combination with a shaker conveyor, a reciprocably movable trough, an extensible trough extensible from or retractable within said trough, and means secured to said extensible trough adapted to be inserted in a kerf cut in a coal face and load the coal shot thereon upon reciprocable movement thereof and simultaneous movement across the coal face comprising a loading pan including a section secured to the forward end of said trough, a shoe supporting the rearward end of said section. and another section pivotallysecured to said first-named section for pivotal move-- 12. A loading apparatusinaccordance withclaim 10 wherein the forward and rearward sections are provided with advance and retreating serrated edges for operation in opposite direc tions, and wherein retaining members are detachably secured to the edges forming the retreating edges thereof.

13. In combination with a shaker conveyor, means adapted to be inserted in a kerf cut in a coal face for loading material after the coal has been shot down thereon by extensible and retractable movement with respect to the coal face and by movement across the coal face including an extensible pan extensible from or retractable within said shaker conveyor, a loading pan including a rearward portion adapted to be secured to the forward end of said extensible pan and a forward portion extending therefrom said loading pan having an open advance edge and a closed retreating edge, and means for causing said loading pan to conform to an uneven mine bottom comprising a hinged connection between the forward and rearward portions of said loading pan.

14. In combination with a shaker conveyor, means adapted to be inserted in a kerf cut in a coal face for loading material after the coal has been shot down thereon by extensible and retractable movement with respect to the coal face and by movement across the coal face including an extensible pan, extensible from or retractable within said shaker conveyor, a loading pan adapted to be secured to the forward end of said extensible pan, and means for causing said loading pan to conform to an uneven mine bottom comprising a shoe supporting the rearward end of said loading pan, said pan being divided into a forward and rearward section which sections are hinged together for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely thereof and the advance edge of said loading pan being open and adapted to lie along the mine bottom and the retreating edge of said loading pan being closed.

15. A loading apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein the advance and retreating edges of said loading pan are serrated so said loading pan may operate in opposite directions.

16. A loading apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein the advance and retreating edges of said loading panare serrated. so said loading pan may operate in opposite directions and wherein material retaining members are adapted to be detachably secured to the edge forming the retreating edge thereof.

1'7. In a loading apparatus, and in combination with a shaker conveyor, a conveyor trough, and loading means insertable in a kerf cut in a coal face adapted to be attached to said trough and adapted to rest on and conform to an uneven mine bottom comprising a loading pan including a plurality of relatively flat sections hingedly connected togetherfor pivotal movement about a horizontal transverse axis, said loading pan having an open advance serrated edge adapted to lie along the ground and material retaining means on the opposite edge thereof.

18. A loading apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein both edges of the loading pan are serrated and wherein material retaining members are adapted to' be detachably secured to the'serrated edge which forms the retreating edge thereof.

19. In a loadingapparatus, and in combination with a shaker conveyor, a conveyor trough, and loading means comprising a loading pan insertable in a kerf cut in a coal face attached to said trough and adapted to rest on and conform to an. uneven mine bottom and be advanced across a working place in such a manner that its longest edge is its advance edge, said loading pan including a relatively flat section adapted to engage and slide along the mine bottom having opposite serrated edges, one of said edges being adapted. to form the advance edge thereof and the opposite edge thereof being adapted to have a material retaining member detachably secured thereto.

TIMOTHY F. MCCARTHY. 

